240712004312 - Application for Renewal of the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) ongoing / proposed exploration / prospecting in the Mining License (ML) No. 1, Berg-Aukas Area, Grootfontein District, Otjozondjupa Region, North-Central Namibia

The renewed Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) is required ongoing / proposed exploration / prospecting in the Mining License (ML) No. 1, Berg-Aukas Area, Grootfontein District, Otjozondjupa Region, North-Central Namibia. Although the Proponent is holding a ML, no mining activities have taken place in ML area since the closure of the Berg-Aukas vanadium, zinc and lead mining operations in 1978 due to low global commodity prices. The proponent intends to only conduct exploration activities covering desktop studies, followed by site-specific activities on targeted areas that may be delineated and using exploration techniques/ methods such as geophysical surveys, geological mapping, trenching, drilling and bulk sampling. Initial local field-based activities such as widely spaced mapping, sampling, surveying and possible drilling in order to determine the viability of any delineated local targets; 1. Initial desktop exploration activities (review of existing information and all previous activities in order identify any potential target/s); 2. Regional reconnaissance field-based activities such mapping and sampling to identify areas with potential targets based on the recommendations of the desktop work; 3. Detailed local field-based activities such as very detailed mapping, sampling, surveying and detailed drilling in order to determine the feasibility of any delineated local targets; 4. Prefeasibility and feasibility studies to be implemented on site-specific area/s if the local field-based studies prove positive followed by test miming and application for mining new ECC after completing the EIA and EMP. The scope of the required field-based support and logistical activities will depend on the scale of proposed exploration activities to be undertaken. The proposed exploration activities will be supported by existing tracks and accommodation facilities in Berg-Aukas. In the absences of existing tracks, the field team will create such new tracks with the permission of the land owner/s and depending on the scale of exploration. In the absences of existing suitable campsite / farmstead, temporary camp will be setup at suitable locations within the ML area in line with the EMP provisions. The size of the exploration camp will be of very limited footprints during the exploration phase but may be expanded for the test mining and mine development phases in an event of a discovery of economic minerals resources.